

Netstat is one of the easiest TCP/IP utilities to use. With netstat you can quickly see if there’s a suspicious connection from your computer to the network.

Malicious software such as trojans often open a port and wait to be contacted by their creators for further instructions. There are many use cases for the program, but one common purpose these days is the detection of malware. There is a graphical alternative in the form of Microsoft TCPView, but knowing how to use netstat will always be useful. It started life on Unix and has become a fundamental weapon in the network administrator’s toolbox. Netstat isn’t just a Windows application, it’s on Linux, Unix and Mac as well. This includes which ports are open and in use and what connections are open and running. It gives you basic statistics on key network activity. Netstat or Network Statistics is a powerful information utility that gives you important insights into what your network connection is doing at any given moment. That is, Using PowerShell for Home Users – A Beginner’s Guide by our very own Guy McDowell. If you want to walk the path of the PowerShell master, it begins with a single step. Now you can type your commands into the command line in PowerShell to your heart’s content.
